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Amtrak Train Conductor Has "No Recollection, Explanation" For Deadly Derailment

Tyler Durden's picture




 

On the heels of the tragic Amtrak derailment that killed seven people and injured hundreds, some have suggested that ageing infrastructure is at least partly to blame. Take the following excerpt from NPR for example:

It's only in the busy Northeast Corridor that Amtrak passenger fares actually cover operating expenses. State subsidies help pay for some of the other routes, and Congress funds the rest.

 

Former Amtrak President David Gunn said from its earliest days there were some unrealistic expectations of Amtrak's finances…

 

Still, Gunn said Amtrak, for the most part, does work. "It hasn't been properly funded, and it hasn't had real support from many administrations." Yet, "it's been able to put together a pretty impressive operation”...

 

But there are many more infrastructure-related improvements needed, said Brookings Institution transportation expert Robert Puentes.

 

"The electrical system needs upgrading, there are tunnels that serve as pinch points that are over a century old in some cases. So there's been quite a bit of documentation showing how we need to invest in the Northeast Corridor because it is a very efficient route that does compete very well with other modes of transportation."

Then there’s this rather definitive sounding bit from MarketWatch:

America is crumbling before our eyes. Once, the U.S. was the envy of the world with its modern roads, airports, railroad bridges and other infrastructure.

 

Everything was first-class.

 

Now, it’s third-rate.

 

An Amtrak passenger train derailed Tuesday in Philadelphia, killing at least seven passengers. It’s not too early to say that Amtrak’s crumbling infrastructure didn’t help matters.

Maybe not, but then again, one could say that about a lot of things. For example, it’s also not too early to say that driving a train at 106 into a curve rated for 50 probably “didn’t help matters” either.

We imagine that in the coming weeks, we’ll discover several other “unhelpful” contributing factors, although we now know that one person who won’t be very helpful when it comes to uncovering the unhelpful is engineer Brandon Bostian, because as the WSJ reports, he has no recollection of the entire ordeal.

Via WSJ:

As rescue personnel picked through the train’s wreckage and local hospitals cared for injured passengers, the National Transportation Safety Board said a “black box” data recorder put the train’s speed at 106 mph just before the curve. The train’s engineer applied emergency brakes, but several seconds later, the train’s speed was only down to 102 mph, when the data recorder stopped.

 

“As we know, it takes a long time to decelerate a train,” said NTSB member Robert Sumwalt in a news conference.

 

Referring to the application of the brakes before the crash, he added, “You’re supposed to enter the curve at 50 miles an hour. He was already in the curve.”

 

A law-enforcement official identified the engineer as Brandon Bostian of Queens, N.Y. Mr. Bostian

wasn’t at home Wednesday.

 

Mr. Bostian’s lawyer, Robert Goggin, told ABC’s “Nightline” that the engineer has no recollection of the crash and “no explanation” for what happened. Mr. Bostian has voluntarily turned over a blood sample and his cell phone, his lawyer said. Philadelphia authorities said Mr. Bostian spoke with city police but didn’t give a formal statement, ABC News reported.

And although “Mr. Goggin said his client would be willing to speak to the NTSB,” it’s not readily apparent why that would be constructive given that Bostian has already indicated that when it comes to explaining what happened, he’s got nothing. 

The wreck has quickly been politicized with some Democrats jumping at the opportunity to blame a lack of infrastructure spending. Meanwhile, Fox’s Megyn Kelly seems to have missed the irony inherent in turning a segment ostensibly aimed at bemoaning the politicization of a tragedy into a political fight. 

Via Medianite:

Fox’s Megyn Kelly got pretty pissed off tonight over how quickly some have politicized the Amtrak crash, making the case for more Amtrak funding.

 

Kelly didn’t quite understand what infrastructure funding has to do with an engineer that was going at twice the speed limit. Both she and Chris Stirewalt piled on the individuals (namely Democrats) making this an issue. Kelly asked, “Who failed them?… How exactly did the infrastructure fail?”

 

She also fought with DNC official Robert Zimmerman, who argued with Kelly about how one particular infrastructure issue––a positive train control––has been delayed due to funding issues. Kelly still thought it tasteless to invoke politics when people are dead.

So while we wait to discover what engineer Brandon Bostian doesn’t remember, we’ll leave you with the following because a picture is sometimes worth a thousand words:

 

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Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:09 | 6092587 HandyCrapper
HandyCrapper's picture

He should be run over by a locomotive doing 2 mph.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:11 | 6092598 I woke up
I woke up's picture

He'll get promoted

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:24 | 6092673 duo
duo's picture

Amtrak interview for conductor.

Q:  Do you know how trains work?

A:  No.

Q:  OK, have you ever been on a train?

A:  I've been on the B and N lines in New York before.

Q:  Hmmmm,  Who did you vote for in the last election?

A:  Obama.

Q:  You start Monday.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:27 | 6092681 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

You forgot:

Q:  Are you gay?

A:  Your place or mine?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:33 | 6093509 Publicus
Publicus's picture

Given that there is a second derailing, this appears to be a mind control psyop.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:04 | 6093407 Larry Dallas
Larry Dallas's picture

Low IQ posterchild.

Latch key kid born in the 80s

Parents probably divorced.

I can go on...

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:24 | 6092675 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

will this be how it is played out?

http://www.wnd.com/2009/09/109553/

The progressives are very defensive you know, but ALL problems can be traced back to inadequate government spending.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:39 | 6092743 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Yep. What I said above.

He'll be exonerated for bravely steering the engine away from those filled tanker cars.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:20 | 6093212 rbg81
rbg81's picture

He will blame the infrastructure, Global Warming and Homophobia.  In short, no one will touch him.  Except, maybe, a pissed off family member of one of deceased.  

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:29 | 6092696 Butterflying
Butterflying's picture

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do... www.jobs-review.com

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:34 | 6092719 Bryan
Bryan's picture

Nice try, Hillary.  But you are still NOT going to be the first woman president!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:45 | 6093561 Nasquak
Nasquak's picture

and your sister is averaging 8 bucks an hour licking my balls

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:02 | 6092842 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Lets load the politicians on a train doing 106 around dead mans curve.

Sun, 05/17/2015 - 08:33 | 6102577 misitu
misitu's picture

No, that would be the guy in the SCADA office.

hint

this smells like another of those R/C jobs

let's see

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:10 | 6092590 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Amtrak Train Conductor Has "No Recollection, Explanation" For Deadly Derailment

 

It's the Sgt Shultz defense. I know nothing.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:14 | 6092617 onewayticket2
onewayticket2's picture

Crack is WHACK!

 

- Whitney Houston

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:18 | 6093459 spieslikeus
spieslikeus's picture

Or, like our fearless leader, he could simply say he knew nothing and read about it in the papers.

Sun, 05/17/2015 - 08:35 | 6102582 misitu
misitu's picture

interviewing wrong person.

see above

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:09 | 6092591 BoredRoom
BoredRoom's picture

Lying cocksucker Obama blamed it on Republican budget cuts.....

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:20 | 6092602 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

It certainly wasn't from texting on his Obamaphone, that's for damn sure.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:19 | 6092646 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

dats rayciss

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:30 | 6092699 sodbuster
sodbuster's picture

After we have spent trillions on keeping zombie banks alive, NOW we get around to infrastructure.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:11 | 6092594 Bryan
Bryan's picture

"You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

Rahm Emanuel

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:12 | 6092609 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Global warming, RIGHT THERE!!!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:12 | 6092605 Rikky
Rikky's picture

mr. amnesia was told exactly what to say. if you can't recollect anything than you are nothing but another victim and can't be held accountable for your actions/in-actions. it's pathetic how its perfectly acceptable to lie, cheat and steal your way to what works best for you. if the president, congress, multi-nationals, sports stars and everyone else is doing it why shouldn't you? rome crumbled from within so is the USA.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:13 | 6092614 saints51
saints51's picture

This is what happens in a country where lawyers are a dime a dozen.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:16 | 6092633 youngman
youngman's picture

he should be hooked up to some electric nodes to help him remember.....the old school way

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:06 | 6092859 Ness.
Ness.'s picture

We need to call Marsellus and his boyz to help this asshole recall what happened.

 

What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' niggers, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass. 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:37 | 6092732 Max Cynical
Max Cynical's picture

I'm betting we find out that Mr. Amnesia was either on the phone or texting...maybe his cell phone records will jog his memory.

If this train had a mechanical failure that prevented him from controlling the speed, we would have already heard about it.

I fear this was human error.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:08 | 6093433 STP
STP's picture
The texting, by the Engineer, was the cause of the Chatsworth, CA, Metrolink - Union Pacific head on collision.  But most of the time, the cause of these accidents are sleep deprivation, interupption of the Circadian rhythym and odd shifts.   Most of the transcontinental carriers run 24/7.   How many times, have you laid awake at 1 AM or 2 AM and heard the horn of a train going through a crossing nearby?   When you hear that at 2 AM, know that there is a crew on board that locomotive, racking up the lonely miles in the middle of the night and trying to pay attention and stay awake.   It can't be easy.  When I took a course at Embry Riddle in Avation Safety, the sleep part of the course was very interesting.  There is only so long, a person can forcefully stay awake.  At a certain point, the body and the brain, will force itself into a 'micro sleep' mode.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsleep   Funny, this NTSB report on this subject, just came out a few months ago in February of 2015.    http://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/CHart//Documents/Hart_150211.pdf   Here is the wording from Slide #4   Major Fatigue Challenges  

 

 

  The fundamental disconnect: Commercial transportation is 24/7, but humans are not   The underlying science not well developed   Difficult to measure   Initially   Degradation while underway (adrenaline effects?)   Post-accident   One size may not fit all   At work: Depends upon shift, shift changes, duties, environment, rapid crossing of time zones (aviation), other factors   Not at work: Can’t regulate activities, lifestyle   How to ensure that employees come to work well rested and ready to perform for the duration?
Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:09 | 6093434 STP
STP's picture
Dup
Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:54 | 6093364 STP
STP's picture

Take a look at an NTSB railroad investigation sometime.  It doesn't matter if the Engineer doesn't say anything.   There's also the conductor and/or fireman in the cab and they usually have something to say, unless they're not talking either.  And it still doesn't matter, because  the NTSB goes over everything with a fine tooth comb.   The black box, even shows when the horn is being blown!   The Union Pacific Engineer in the collision with a BNSF freight train at a diamond crossing, couldn't recall anything.  The fireman wasn't paying attention either, until it was too late and the UP train collided with the BNSF train, at a 90 degree angle, also taking out the vehicular bridge that ran above the rail intersection.  The investigators look at the medical history, sleep patterns and many other factors.  You'd be surprised at how thorough it is.

 

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR1402.pdf

 

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:33 | 6093511 Ass Burger
Ass Burger's picture

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C.

A x B x C = X.

If X < the cost of a recall...we don't do one.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:19 | 6093463 ChanceIs
ChanceIs's picture

"What difference – at this point, what difference does it make?"

Has Obama called him yet to congratulate him for coming out and being the first gay engineer to drive a train 100 mph into a 50 mph curve?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 15:35 | 6094186 The_Dude
The_Dude's picture

My thought was that it was likely a section in the Union handbook of who/what to blame when you fuck up...

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:12 | 6092607 This is it
This is it's picture

Wait...shouldn't he be an Indian?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:29 | 6092693 Billy Sol Estes
Billy Sol Estes's picture

Unions kept the H1B1 visas out.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:13 | 6092611 HandyCrapper
HandyCrapper's picture

AmCrap charges out the ass for the "service". It is a typical FedGov money rathole. Put this turkey into receivership and sell to private interests. At the very least there would be better screening of employees and better infrastructure maintenance. 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:36 | 6092984 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Cheaper, and faster to fly RT LAX<>MCI than to take the train....if you don't mind the Blueshirt gropings.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:14 | 6092618 heisenberg991
heisenberg991's picture

Dood was texting or looking at porn on his phone lol

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:27 | 6092689 Billy Sol Estes
Billy Sol Estes's picture

His internet history is probably filled with searches on po-nhub like: "white dude F-ed on train by 2 black girls."

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:37 | 6092987 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

So he moonlights at the SEC?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:55 | 6093371 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

The train gathered speed as it was descending down the Grassy Knoll.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:20 | 6093465 ChanceIs
ChanceIs's picture

Don't let's confuse him with the Secret Service.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:15 | 6092621 Typing Typer
Typing Typer's picture

I believe another train wreck in recent history was caused by stoned conductors. I wonder if pot played a role in this wreck. Probably giggling away at how the train kept going over the speed limit, ha ha ha ha ahh ha ha hahahha BAM!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:41 | 6092759 sleigher
sleigher's picture

Reports were they took his blood and no drugs or alcohol were found.  

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:15 | 6092622 youngman
youngman's picture

Union Lawyer on deck already...that was fast.....

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:20 | 6092648 LetThemEatRand
LetThemEatRand's picture

Yes, individuals should be prevented by government and/or private cartels from entering into agreements whereby they have access to lawyers through collective funding, and should need to face government regulators and an angry population on their own dime.  And clearly no one has already jumped to the conclusion that the crash was his fault, so why does he need a lawyer anyway?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:35 | 6092723 negative rates
negative rates's picture

In the end it's always pilot error, but the expenses are distributed evenly to the consumer during the process, it's the corp way.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:10 | 6092864 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Yeah, let's not hang him yet. CBS Philly reported that a different train was struck by a "projectile" which shattered the conductors window. As crews were examining the damage, the Amtrak train derailed. There might be a lot more to the story.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 13:09 | 6093647 kdervin
kdervin's picture

TeamDepends, I was thinking along the same lines.  That train ramped up to 106mph suspiciously fast out of the 30th Street Station.

It's also suspicious that no one is positing that it could be a cyber attack, which makes more sense than an engineer taking a train into a curve at twice the speed.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:16 | 6092627 onewayticket2
onewayticket2's picture

rathole.....exactly.  the money goes to pensions and payola....not safety and infrastructure.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:19 | 6092645 Whoa Dammit
Whoa Dammit's picture

In the other photos I have seen of this guy, there is something off about him, which can be seen in his eyes. And in the photo with this article, what normal adult would stand around in public with a "free Hugs" sign written on a piece of cardboard?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:24 | 6092672 Billy Sol Estes
Billy Sol Estes's picture

I actually can see most Amtrak employees doing something like that.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:02 | 6092841 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Can you imagine how "off" and "scary" people would say he was if he was wearing a zerhedge cap in that picture?

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:20 | 6092650 Billy Sol Estes
Billy Sol Estes's picture

Lets get the death pool going in this thread.

Place your bets folks:

a) Asleep at the button (that is all that is needed to drive a train.)

b) Taking a dump for over an hour

c) Coasta Concordia'd a female passenger, train on cruise control

d) Costa Concordia'd a male passenger....

e) Bees in the cabin, likely explanation

f) It was the Republicraps cutting the budget

g) Aloha Outbak Steak Haus! Terrorists.

h) Drunk

i) High

j) Texting

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:21 | 6092659 IridiumRebel
IridiumRebel's picture

can we add "Snakes on a Train"?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:24 | 6092671 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

k) Austerity

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:37 | 6092736 negative rates
negative rates's picture

He was behind schedual again, or just wanted to see how fast the new train would go.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:23 | 6093471 spieslikeus
spieslikeus's picture

Maybe he's from Arkansas. When I lived there, I heard the phrase 'hold my beer, I'm gonna try sumthin' on more than one occasion.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:40 | 6092748 HandyCrapper
HandyCrapper's picture

k) All of the above

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:47 | 6092780 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

m) ISIS

n) Bush, so we can invade something.

o) dah joos. 

p) From Russia, with love.

q) MILK Ultra-lite shake, Manchurian conductor.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:20 | 6092653 IridiumRebel
IridiumRebel's picture

We are all F-35 Raptors now....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/07/25/how-the-f-35...

"The remarkable lack of interest in figuring out how things could have gone so wrong with this plane, especially from people who claim to be so desperately concerned about runaway government spending, tells you something about what a sham deficit hawkery really is."

GOTTA KEEP THE DOLLAR GLOBAL HEGEMONY ROLLIN' DONTCHA KNOW!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:39 | 6092741 negative rates
negative rates's picture

The worse the design, the greater the GDP #'s, it's all about growth and jobs remember.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:43 | 6093022 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

21st century Chariots. Old ideas on how to fight war will be beaten by new ideas, and a disabled horse.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:25 | 6092655 22winmag
22winmag's picture

An unknown nobody at the Pentagon got on television within hours of the JFK Jr. crash and pointed to pilot error before the bodies where pulled from the water or any genuine investigation had even started.

 

Since when does the Pentagon rule on civilian Cessna crashes? Maybe the Pentagon would be so kind as to comment on Amtrak crashes.

 

Who needs the NTSB when you have the Pentagon?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:21 | 6092657 Its_the_economy...
Its_the_economy_stupid's picture
Amtrak Train Conductor Has "No Recollection, Explanation" For Deadly Derailment

He has learned the "Corzine" defense.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:25 | 6092664 spanish inquisition
spanish inquisition's picture

Cue the Grateful Dead.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcB9wlmnDPY

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 21:14 | 6095575 StychoKiller
Thu, 05/14/2015 - 21:16 | 6095585 Dixie Flatline
Dixie Flatline's picture

Arguably one of the worst Dead songs...ever!  :)

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:21 | 6092658 koaj
koaj's picture

maybe if we didnt spend a trillion dollars a year bombing brown people we would have money for choo choo trains

 

not that i support government owned anything...just making a point

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:34 | 6092715 onewayticket2
onewayticket2's picture
what happened to the extra Billion we were forced to give amtrak as part of the "stimulus"?

 

$787 billion for "roads, bridges and transporation" infrastructure.   

 

oh, right...pensions and payoffs.

 

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:37 | 6092993 Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas's picture

Ding ding ding! Winner!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:24 | 6092670 Motasaurus
Motasaurus's picture

Maybe the train was sabotaged by Mr Glass, looking for his superman.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:27 | 6092685 d edwards
d edwards's picture

if i f ed up this bad i'd try to forget too. the equivalent of taking the fifth.

 

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:27 | 6092682 Bangin7GramRocks
Bangin7GramRocks's picture

Just in: union Quarterback doesn't remember cheating. Filthy union lawyer to defend his cheating.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:41 | 6092752 negative rates
negative rates's picture

That wasn't it, all the QB's were doing it so he did nothing wrong.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:47 | 6092789 Bangin7GramRocks
Bangin7GramRocks's picture

Just in: union quarterbacks cover for fellow union member. Said everyone does it against all evidence to the contrary. Members just trying to keep overly generous union contracts and benefits.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:30 | 6092704 swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

Regardless of the specifics of this crash, we should get used to hearing about this kind of thing all the time.  We can spend $1,000,000,000,000 per year on a global war machine, considering the Pentagon budget, the alphabet soup agencies, the nukes are D.O.E., State hires a lot of mercenaries, etc.; but we can't find the money to fix infrastructure, have sensible transportation, health care financing, education, etc.  A couple Trillion bucks would fix our infrastructure beyond our ability to think of things to do.  We spend a mere fraction of that on health care and education.

People complain that we spend, depending on where you live, $8,000 a year per student in K-12 Education.  Well, we spend over $40,000 a year per prisoner and we insist on having more of those than anyone else in the world.  We spend about $400,000 per per year per person in the military.

If we really wanted to ensure America's security in the world we'd knock a zero off that war machine budget.  But we aren't going to do that.  And I don't ever want to hear anybody call anything actually useful "Pie in the sky."  I don't ever want to hear any of these cynical psychopaths say we can't afford anything, when we can flush a Trillion dollars a year down the toilet without question, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world to do.

We have decided to let our country fall apart in every way to make those who profit off the war machine as rich as gods would be if they bothered.  So be it.  But let's not let anyone pretend it isn't a choice.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:42 | 6092769 negative rates
negative rates's picture

It's not that we can't find the money, it's the quality of our workmanship has suffered for so long that the consequences are finally hitting home.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:12 | 6092888 silverer
silverer's picture

You make a lot of good points.  I remember stories about the railroads when the country was young, where some of the side by side tracks where owned by competing companies.  They would race each other on the routes to claim the fastest service.  It blew my mind when I read the speed they were going...  Keep in mind these were steam locomotives.  They were hitting over 100 MPH!  I had no idea.  I always imagined them chugging along at 45 MPH or so.  But back then, the tracks and beds were new and rock solid.  Now when you ride on AMTRAK, there are places where the rails and beds are so wavy they can make you seasick.  Let's face it:  these days politicians are cowards and liars.  The money disappears, nothing worthwhile gets done. Period.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:36 | 6092986 holycrap
holycrap's picture

I agree with you to a point. But you don't go far enough. Could we stop spending on all entitlements as well? Wean people of fthe teat so to speak. Get rid of the department of education, energy, interior etc. Maybe we could go back to the days of personal responsibility. I'll take care of mine, you take care of yours. It has been my experience that those calling for releasing prisoners of non-violent offenses also have a hard time with the death penalty for murderers. We could cull quite a few from that herd as well. Perhaps we could also get unions out of the public sector too. Don't like it, get a job in the private sector. Make the unions negotiate with someone who has to make a profit, instead of a bureaucrat. I could go on, but none of it is going to happen....

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:35 | 6092706 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

The GPS in your car alerts you if you go over the posted speed limit. Amtrak can't afford a $99 GPS?

Better yet, let the passengers use their GPS to monitor the speed. If the train is speeding, calls are made simultaneously to Amtrak headquarters and the local TV station and an Amtrak-monitoring website.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:40 | 6092751 Herodotus
Herodotus's picture

I used my GPS last week on a Michigan Amtrak train.  According to my GPS, we were going 110 miles per hour.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:10 | 6092877 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

Mine once told me to make a right turn in 50 ft. when I was doing 50 mph.

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:33 | 6092713 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

We know Amtrak is a make-work program. 

Was the conductor a Union Member?  

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:39 | 6092745 scattergun
scattergun's picture

Rhetorical question Pookie?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:36 | 6092727 spiral galaxy
spiral galaxy's picture

As a frequent rider on Amtrak's NE line, I can tell you that over 50 percent of the engineers are a bunch of f-ing yahoos with the speed and respect for the aged equipment -- fighter pilot wannabes.  It's like it's some badge of honor to get to a destination way ahead of schedule just to sit around and wait out the clock -- and the conductors boast about the train speed no less!!  What I really want to hear now is how Amtrak intends to monitor all their engineers and driving habits.  Sad.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:42 | 6092763 agstacks
agstacks's picture

Nice, going with the Corzine defense.  I like it. 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:43 | 6092771 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

I read somewhere this guy was quickly whisked away by his lawyer from the police station.

Is he going to play the insanity/health problem/anything-but-admit-personal-responsibility plea?

Probably.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:50 | 6092803 BrokusDickusMaximus
BrokusDickusMaximus's picture

When I read the union lawyer's name all I could picture in my mind was Boyd Crowder from that show "Justified". Forgive me, I'm on PDT and am on my first cup of coffee.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:54 | 6092818 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

'I didn't notice we were going 110 mph because me and the other engineer were smoking a doobie'.   

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 09:58 | 6092829 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

I just watched the German ICE whiz by at 250 mph.  The TGV in France and Spain go even faster.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:20 | 6092916 flapdoodle
flapdoodle's picture

kph not mph

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:47 | 6093057 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

In China most of the intercity trains run at 120 MPH. They are very smooth, kind of like being on an elevator. The really fast ones run at 230 MPH (not kph). They have been taken on test runs up to 330 MPH.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:50 | 6093070 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

 

Wrong    its about 200 mph or 300 kph

30 High-Speed Trains in 5 minutes± (TGV, Thalys, Eurostar, ICE-3)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2l7fNx4YHY

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 15:24 | 6094144 Senseless Urina...
Senseless Urinal Cake's picture

The Japanese Shinkansen set the world train top speed record about a month ago hitting 375 mph !

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 00:15 | 6096014 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

"All high-speed trains in commercial use in China are named CRH .[1] CRH1/2A/2B/2E/5 are expected to have a maximum speed of 250 km/h (160 mph), and CRH2C/3 have a maximum speed of 350 km/h (220 mph). The new trainsets CRH380A have the maximum test speed of 416.6 km/h (258.9 mph). The fastest trainset, CRH380BL, attained a maximum test speed of 487.3 km/h 302.8 mph)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Railway_High-speed

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:26 | 6092942 Bangin7GramRocks
Bangin7GramRocks's picture

Our bombs fly faster. USA! USA! USA!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:04 | 6092846 silverer
silverer's picture

"Politicians blame...lack of spending".  What a bunch of bullshit.  What happened to the 10's of millions for Amtrak when Obama was first elected?  It was in that omnibus spending bill, passed about four months into his first term.  What did you do with THAT money?  Raises, bonuses, and vending machines for the lunch rooms?  And again: http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/news/omnibus-appropriations-bill-for...

You guys are liars and cowards!  But it's OK to pump millions over to the middle east and Ukraine to prop up puppet governments and set us on the path to nuclear WWIII.  As I said: what a bunch of bullshit.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:08 | 6092862 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

Hillary's next book, "It Takes A Crisis".

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:14 | 6092891 PleasedToMeatYou
PleasedToMeatYou's picture

While waiting in a doctors office, I had the MSM newz played at me this morning.  Some company very shrewdly pitched a PR campaign into NTSB and from there to the MSM.  Apparently, a computer system, which we the taxpayers should fund for installation on all trains, would have governed the speed and braked the train before the accident. 

Clearly, we have not yet thrown enough money into the black hole, yet. 

Also, I guess people can't be trusted to operate trains, planes, or automobiles.  Maybe our descendants, if we have any, will look back on this time with horror - where people actually operated machinery! 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:18 | 6092910 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

I recall seeing something here in Europe where the driver of the hi speed train has a deadman stick.  As long as he is holding it the train hums along. If for some reason he doesn't the trains stops.

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:19 | 6092914 gmak
gmak's picture

Maybe he blacked out earlier. To assume that he does remember and is hiding it, is a bit early. Whatever happened to "Innocent until proven guilty". Is ZH becoming a mouthpiece for TPTB?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:21 | 6092923 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Engineer has no recollection because he was surfing porn on his cell.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:53 | 6092927 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Jeff Rense had a similar blackout experience when he lost consciousness.

The government is testing its psychotronic weapons on citizens.

2015 is turning into the year of experimentation of new weapons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcaJmXzhz3A

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:22 | 6092928 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

What an incompetent twit!  The reason I enjoyed the movie, "Flight" so much was that it was a pure joy to witness someone knowing what to do in a crisis - a very rare phenomena nowadays in ALL fields...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnVNNR6CEOE

 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:23 | 6092930 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

It was Jim McNally, he deflated the trains tires.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:26 | 6092940 FlacoGee
FlacoGee's picture

I suspect he was on GrindR.

Doubtful those details will be released.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:26 | 6092943 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

What difference does it make!?

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:27 | 6092945 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture
30 High-Speed Trains in 5 minutes± (TGV, Thalys, Eurostar, ICE-3)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2l7fNx4YHY

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:29 | 6092952 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

The only high-speed thing the US has is a monetary printing press....

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:32 | 6092969 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

I was watching  a Belgian quiz show last week and coincidentally they had a contestant on that was a train driver and the host asked him if they were allowed smartphones in the cockpit.  He said absolutely NOT,  strictly verboden, No latops. ipads or smartphones. If caught cause for termination.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:32 | 6092970 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

I was watching  a Belgian quiz show last week and coincidentally they had a contestant on that was a train driver and the host asked him if they were allowed smartphones in the cockpit.  He said absolutely NOT,  strictly verboden, No latops. ipads or smartphones. If caught cause for termination.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:34 | 6092975 grunk
grunk's picture

When he's not hosting the Academy Awards, Neil Patrick Harris drives a train on the Northeast Corridor.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:48 | 6093061 Captchured
Captchured's picture

Thank you for that. I originally thought it was a picture of Neil Patrick Harris offering free hugs to train crash victims. I guess it is a no-brainer as to who will play the conductor in the upcoming made-for-television mini series about this crash. That's something I don't miss about the 80s. by the way; mini series. Ugh.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:47 | 6093054 bluez
bluez's picture

Um, yeah. A small train fell over sideways on a track behind my office.

So I went out and looked at the situation.

The steel "tracks" were warped and bent as far as I could see. The wooden "underpegs" or whatever they call them were "fragmented" to say the least.

The basic infrastructure was fuckt. No ifs ands or butts.

Our infrastructure is DOA. Deal with it!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 10:59 | 6093107 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture
Rotterdam-Antwerpen 300 km/h, Thalys cab ride / cabinerit  (190 mph) Drivers view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vm8_l5oye4

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:12 | 6093171 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

The driver dude is gay - so it can't be his fault, because we cannot offend all the other gay people that follow speed limits.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:15 | 6093195 Kilgore Trout
Kilgore Trout's picture

There's a difference between and engineer and a conductor. The conductor is a kindly old gentleman who wanders through the cars punching tickets.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:20 | 6093213 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

He thought this was Obama's new high speed train project. 

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:32 | 6093273 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

Barcelona to Paris TGV hi speed in CLASS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjuJm9FS0Lw

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 11:53 | 6093359 FeralSerf
FeralSerf's picture

A reminder of Sirhan Sirhan. He can't remember either.

Maybe the CIA was having another "drill".

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:09 | 6093427 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

My country, the US is a total basket case and yes, I did "fight" for my country as a combat infantryman so don't throw the "what did you do for your country" shit in my face...We put our money into F35s but I don't think they can seat 250 people...Will someone please put Amerika out of its misery?....

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 12:41 | 6093541 Condition 1SQ
Condition 1SQ's picture

Although I don't know anyone who works at Amtrak, I do know a few people who work as locomotive engineers (aka "hoggers") for freight railroads.  This is the common theme:

- Batshit crazy hours (8 hours of rest generally, which begins when you stop the train and transfer crew).  Sleep depravation is the norm.  Only until you have serious seniority (25+ years) will you get the regular milk runs (daily locals).

- They are paid like longshoremen ($100k+ / year)

- Because they are so well paid for blue collar work, management and the union are locked in an adversarial mode.

- I have never met a hogger who likes what he does.  They are universally bitter - it's basically their culture now.  You haven't heard bitching until you've heard a railroader talk about their management.

- Retired locomotive engineers don't live very long into retirement (I believe the average is 2 years).

- The job is incredibly boring.  Most of your time is spent in sidings waiting for an oncoming train to pass (aka "a meet").

- To the best of my knowledge, all locomotives have alerters (aka "dead man switches") which require the engineer to hit a button or adjust a control every X seconds, depending on the loco speed.  If you miss it, the brakes will start to be applied.  That gives you an idea of how boring the job is (the assumption is you WILL fall asleep).

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 13:09 | 6093646 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture
Well, you know, shit happens.
Amtrak Train Conductor Has "No Recollection, Explanation" For Deadly Derailment
Thu, 05/14/2015 - 18:40 | 6093836 Youri Carma
Youri Carma's picture

That’s the third this month:

Rachel Jacobs, ApprenNet Chief, Dies at 39 in Amtrak Derailment
14 May 2015, by Doug Alexander (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-13/rachel-jacobs-apprenne...

Murray Abbott, Missing Morgan Stanley Trader, Dies at 36
12 May 2015, by Doug Alexander (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-12/missing-morgan-stanley...

Sheryl Sandberg's husband Goldberg died after hotel gym accident: official
5 May 2015, by Gabriel Stargardter and Sarah McBride - Mexico City/San Francisco (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/us-surveymonkey-ceo-death-idUS...

Also some high officials were waxed:
Pakistan helicopter crash kills Norwegian, Philippine ambassadors
8 May 2015, by Mehreen Zahra-Malik - Islamabad (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/08/us-pakistan-crash-idUSKBN0NT0O...
Thu, 05/14/2015 - 15:13 | 6094088 orez65
orez65's picture

The "free hug" mentality is a liberal's disease.

They are in a state of shock from realizing the results of their liberal philosphy.

When you believe that the Government will take care of all your needs, warehouse your parents when they get old, eliminate all of life's risks and no need to procreate in order to "Save the Earth" then there is no need for any human relationships.

Therefore no longing for human hugs.

They are pathetic, at least they should realize the consequences of their philosphy!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 15:17 | 6094115 orez65
orez65's picture

There is no fu.king need for any train engineers!

That's a job that can be automated and made much safer than having humans drive the trains.

The only thing that is keeping that from happening are the UNIONS. 

CONGRATULATIONS UNIONS YOU HAVE BROUGHT US DEATH DESTRUCTION AND HUMAN SUFFERING AGAIN!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 16:31 | 6094445 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

What a coincidence!

Hillary coudn't remember how the Rose Law Firm billing records ended up in the private residence of the White House with her fingerprints on them.

Sometimes, things just slip your mind.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 17:25 | 6094672 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

The engineer just remembered.  The train was being chased by ISIS terrorists.  He had to increase the speed or instead of 7 dead it might be hundreds.

Obama is giving him a medal for valour .

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 17:33 | 6094728 Zymurguy
Zymurguy's picture

He doesn't recall?

 

Sounds like he's got a great future in politics.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 21:23 | 6095600 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Possible solution:  Lock'em up until their memory improves!

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 22:45 | 6095820 Aussiekiwi
Aussiekiwi's picture

He was going too fast....what else could he remember?

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